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Medical school admissions committees take the time to carefully scrutinize different aspects of each application. If you know what medical schools are specifically looking for when they review applications, you can better prepare yourself during your premedical career. Knowing why medical schools care about the things they care about is also helpful.

Part I. What do medical schools want in an applicant and why?

In this section, we review what medical schools are looking for in applicants and why. This is not a list of medical school admissions requirements, but a list of the achievements that make an applicant competitive for medical school. In the second section, we will review how you can become a competitive applicant for medical school by covering all the listed areas.

1) Grade Point Average (GPA): Medical school is academically challenging and admissions committees want to know that you are capable of handling the rigorous coursework in medical school. A good undergraduate GPA is absolutely essential to proving that you are capable of academically succeeding in medical school.

2) Medical College Admissions Test Scores (MCAT): Like the GPA, medical schools use the MCAT score to determine an applicant’s ability to excel in the medical school coursework and to succeed on the medical boards. The MCAT is the great equalizer because it shows not just how you performed compared to students who went to the same college as you, but compared to all medical school applicants.

3) Exposure to Clinical Medicine: Simply proving you have what it takes to do well in medical school courses is not enough to land you an acceptance. Medical schools also want to know that you understand the medical profession, you enjoy the work of a physician, and you are committed to this field. Experiences that give you exposure to healthcare will demonstrate your understanding and commitment to medicine.

4) Research Experience: Medicine is an intellectually demanding profession that requires life-long learning and intellectual growth. Research teaches you how to become an independent life-long learner. It also shows you how to ask questions about unknowns and devise studies to find answers to these questions. These skills will be valuable if you plan to take part in research as a future physician. They will also help you read the medical literature, evaluate clinical studies, and apply the information to better treat your patients as a future physician.

5) Leadership Experience: By assuming leadership positions, you show the admissions committee that you are capable of taking initiative and bringing ideas to fruition. You also demonstrate your ability to work in teams, engage with others, and inspire your peers. These qualities are very impressive to a medical school admissions committee, especially because the practice of medicine is becoming more about leading healthcare teams and working well with others. By participating in leadership experiences you are also letting the admissions committee know that as a future physician, you have the potential to be a leader in your field and in your community.

6) Community Service: Admissions committees are impressed by community service because it shows compassion, a concern for the less privileged and the desire to make a large-scale difference in the community.